The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a pill version of the weight-loss drug Wegovy, announced pharmaceutical leader Novo Nordisk. This is the first pill of its kind to get FDA approval, opening a new chapter in obesity treatment. Wegovy's maker called the once-daily pill a "convenient option" that provides the same weight loss as the injectable form. Previously, Wegovy was FDA-approved only as an injection for weight loss. Similar drugs like Ozempic are primarily approved for Type 2 diabetes treatment but have weight-loss effects. Novo Nordisk shared trial data showing the pill led to an average weight loss of 16.6%. About one-third of nearly 1,300 people in the study lost 20% or more of their body weight. The pill is slated to hit the US market in early January 2026. Mike Doustdar, Novo Nordisk’s chief executive, said, "Patients will have a convenient, once-daily pill that can help them lose as much weight as the original Wegovy injection." This approval could boost Novo Nordisk’s sales following a tough year marked by falling shares and profit warnings. The company is competing hard against firms like Eli Lilly in the weight-loss drug arena. Novo Nordisk's shares jumped nearly 10% in after-hours trading in New York following the announcement.